Belt tightener



Oct. 22, 1929. V w JACQUES 1,732,604

BELT TIGHTENER Filed May 4, 3.928

Patented Get. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE w. JACQUES, on NEW Bnnronn, MASSACHUSETTS, nssrsnon. To ATLAS TACK CORPORATION, or FAIRHAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS, A conronnrron on NEW YORK BELT TIGHTENER Application filed May 4, 1928.

This invention relates to mechanism for tensioning machine driving belts, and more particularly to such devices as are particularly suitable to tighten the drive belts of high speed bench machines, such as sewing machines, fastener setting machines, and the like, Where small light belts, usually substantially round in cross section, are employed. For this purpose the tightener is designed to be mounted on the table or bench where it is readily accessible to the operator of the machine and so that the belt may be tensioned to the desired extent by the operator and so held in a simple and expeditious manner. The tension of the belt is accomplished by pushing or pulling an idle wheel thereagainst until the desired tension has been produced and then causing the idle wheel to he releasably held in tensioning position.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in Which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevation of a machine drive showing the tightener in operative relation to a driving belt.

Figure 2 is a top plan partly broken away of the tightener.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a bench or table on which a machine of the general type heretofore indicated may be supported. At 2 is shown diagrammatically a drive pulley for this machine which is connected by means of a driving belt 3 extending through a perforation or slot in the bench or table 1 to a pulley a on a conntershaft 5 supported in bearing pedestals 6 which may be fixed to the floor.

Between the pulleys 2 and 1, and preferably mounted 011 the bench 1, where it is readily accessible to the operator, is the tightening device indicated generally at 10. As shown best in Figures 2 and 3, this device comprises a support 11 having a base 12 which may be secured as by means of the Screws 13 to the top face of the table 1, this support as shown being angular in form having its for tended to form an elongated head 14. To

Serial No. 275,052.

this head may be fixed, as by any suitable means, as the screws 15, a slideway member 16, which as shown comprises a straight bar of a width somewhat greater than that of the head portion 14. Slidably mounted on this slideway or bar 16 is a slide 18 and in order to hold the slide to the way it is shown as provided with upper and lower vertical flanges 19 and 20 spaced from the vertical portion 21 of the slide so as to takeover the upper and lower edges of the bar 16. This complemental construction of slide and way insures against removal of the slide from the bar or slideway member transversely of its length and as shown Stop lugs 22 maybe fixed to opposite ends of the bar 20 to prevent the slide from being inadvertently detached therefrom endwise of the slideway. The slide 18 has fixed thereto the inner end of a hollow post 25, this post extending substantially at right angles to the length of the slideway 16.

It is shown in Figure 2 as having its inner end of reduced diameter as at 26, this portion being seated in a mating opening through the outer wall 27 of the slide 18. Carried by the slide, and as shown slidably mounted in the hollow of the post 25, is a latch bar 28 havingratchet teeth 29 on its inner end which are normall ressed into en a ement with mating ratchet teeth 30 in the outer face of V threaded engagement therewith. The post 25 is shown as provided wltha slot 35 through which extends a latch release pin 36 which has its inner end threaded into a mating threaded socket 37 in the latch rod. 'On the post 25 and adjacent to the outer face of the slide 18 is journaled an idler pulley 10. As

shown this pulley is provided with a pair of grooves 11 for the reception of the drive belt 3 which may be double. However, this pulley should be surfaced to suit the particular type of belt used and therefore might be formed otherwise than shown if desired. This pulley may be retained in position by any suitable means, as for example, the split ring &2 engaging in a peripheral groove in the post 25, the post extending sufficiently outwardly of the outer face of the pulley to form a handle portion which may be grasped by the machine operator.

The device is so mounted on the platform or table 1 that the pulley may be moved against the driving belt 3. as illustrated in Figure 1 freely, the latch rod 28 yielding to permit the slide to be moved in this direction'along the ratchet teeth of the slideway. As soon, however, as pressure exerted to move the slide in this direction ceases, the latch engages the ratchet teeth 30, and prevents any retrograde movement in a direction to loosen the tension of the belt. When it is desirable to lessen this tension, however, this may be done readily by the operator, who withdraws the latch rod by engagement of his finger against the pin 36 so that the slide is free to be moved in the opposite direction.

It will thus be seen that by this invention the idler wheel may be moved bodily in a direction generally transverse to the line of the driving belt so as to apply tension thereto and that as soonas the proper tension has been applied the idler is automatically held in its adjusted position without further atten'tion on the part of the operator. It will also be seen that whenever desired the operator mayrelea's'e the pulley from this tensioning position and permit it to be moved by the tension on the driving belt, or the operator may move itby hand out of tensioning posi- 'tion. V

Since the movement of the idle pulley is substantially parallel to the upper face of the bench or table 1' and transverse to its axis of rotation it is in proper relation to tension thefbelt Where the drive is from below the bench and it may be engaged with either the forward or the'rear stretch of the belt as desired. JBy forming the ratchet teeth on a slideway, which may be detached from the support, the direction of free adjustment to apply tension may be adjusted to suit the particular conditions, it being only necessary in order to reverse the direction, to turn the bar 16 end for end and then fix it in position.

Having thus described an embodiment of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in'the art that various changes and modifications maybe made therein without departing from its spirit or scope as defined journaled on said post, and means actuable to release said latch to permit said pulley to be adjusted by movement of said slide.

2. A device of the class described comprising a support having a guideway, a slide movable along said guideway, said device including means for holding said slide to said way, a hollow post extending outwardly from said slide, a latch having ratchet teeth thereon slidable in said post and through said slide and mating ratchet teeth on said way, means for closing off the outer end of said post, a spring reacting between said closing means and said latch to yieldingly engage said latch with the ratchet teeth in said way, a pulley journaled on said post adjacent to said slide, said post extending outwardly of said pulley to form a handle, and a releasing pin extending through a slot in said handle portion and fixed to said latch for releasing said slide from said way.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

GEORGE V. JACQUES. 

